Menopause Live!
Menopause Live!
Charlotte Body from Menopause Live on why she’s excited about the event, what we can look forward to and the inspiration behind it…
What is the inspiration behind the Menopause Live event?
Charlotte:
When perimenopause hit, it felt like a sledgehammer. I felt like I aged nine and a half years in just the first six months—no exaggeration. I went to my GP more than six times, and each time I was offered antidepressants, but nothing addressed the root of my issues. I had to fight hard to get the answers I needed and to find solutions for the overwhelming symptoms: my confidence was shattered, my hair was falling out, and I lost my libido.
What shocked me most was how many other women were going through the same thing, suffering in silence, and not getting the help they deserved. I realized something had to change. That’s when I launched my first conference for healthcare professionals called Menopause in Aesthetics. Soon after, I decided to create a consumer-focused event, and Pause Live was born. In just nine months, we launched our first event at the Business Design Centre last November.
We also started a magazine, called Pause, packed with information, advice, and a lot of laughs because I believe that everything we do should have an element of fun.
What can we look forward to at the event?
Charlotte:
The event itself is jam packed with both educational and informative talks and also some good old-fashioned giggles.
We have an educational stage with expert speakers who talk about everything from the role of HRT to relationship and dating advice. We also have a live stage where our celebrity supporters like Lisa Snowden hang out and talk about their personal experience. There is a wellness hub where people can experience some alternative therapies like breath work and yoga – and not forgetting the marketplace where we have a range of exhibitors demonstrating their menopause focused solutions from CBD supplements to intimate toys!
If that is not enough, we also have a cocktail bar! If you are thinking of coming alone, you are in good company. The event is always so empowering, and women comment that they finally feel part of their tribe!
What will you have for breakfast on the day of the event?
Charlotte:
I am currently on a bespoke diet plan with support from menopause experts. I really feel that what you put in your body food-wise is so important; and it’s not just what you eat but when. I fast until 1pm in the afternoon. I do not skip meals or deny myself food, I simply time when I eat and ensure I have regular meals in that time frame. It has helped me lose weight and I feel fantastic. It’s given me more energy!
During the event I no doubt will be treating myself to a cocktail at our Hot Flush bar in the centre of the event. It will be great fun with lots of puns on cocktail names with a menopause theme!
What are the important issues menopausal women are facing?
Charlotte:
I think most women would agree the biggest issue we face is access to the care and attention we need for our symptoms. Menopause has over 70 different symptoms and women are impacted in different ways. It means we all need a different type of care and solution. I strongly believe there is help and a solution to ease your experience of menopause if you have the right guidance.
We have found that so many women are being turned away from their GPs and then feel lost. The NHS simply does not have the resources for understanding of menopause and how to help women. GPs are not being trained to refer women to specialists or to look at the huge range of alternative treatments available.
You recently took your campaign to parliament, why should our politicians be paying more attention?
Charlotte:
There is an estimated 31.2 million females in the UK, and 13 million of them are perimenopausal or menopausal. If you are not directly experiencing menopause yourself you are not far from someone that is and that includes the workplace.
We found that more workplaces need to sit up and take note of women in menopause and how it impacts work.
Back in February 2024, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) published new guidance on menopause in the workplace. The EHRC’s aim is to help employers understand their legal obligations when “supporting workers experiencing menopausal symptoms”. This is great and shows a real step forward.
The government play a massive role in the future of menopause care.
What advice can you offer to women of perimenopause or menopause age?
Charlotte:
Come to PAUSE Live – you really are going to feel supported, learn a lot and meet your tribe. Pause Live is the largest menopause show in the UK with over 70 exhibitors, talks from experts and a wellness hub. We even have a meet and greet service for anyone coming alone so they can feel very welcome indeed.
What’s your secret to success?
Charlotte:
Success depends on how you define it. For me, Pause is a passion project, a non-profit that I’m incredibly proud of. Our goal is to prepare my daughter’s generation for midlife and beyond, and if we can help even one woman get her sparkle back, that’s a huge success in my eyes.
Seeing other women succeed has always been my biggest motivator, and I believe it’s the same for many women in business. If I could go back and tell my younger self anything, it would be this: “You are good enough.” I’ve been an entrepreneur since I started my first business at 25 and struggling with imposter syndrome while being dyslexic made it even more challenging. But looking back, I can confidently say I was always enough.
What are you most proud of in your career?
Charlotte:
My biggest achievement was building my own business from scratch and then selling it for six figures. I started with a concept back in my spare room at the tender age of 25 with just a £1k investment. 20 years on and I sold the same business for far more. I could not have been prouder.
